Electric horn control system



May 2o, 194m Z7 .ed l2 7 J. M. AUFlERO ELECTRIC HORN CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Sept. 19, 1946 riz/1111 1 simu:

INVENTOR l Maa.; uw

ATTORNEYS Patented May 20, 1947 UNlTEDsTATEs PATENT oFFlcE ELECTRIC HORN CONTROL SYSTEM John M. Auero, Plandome, N. Y.

Application September 19, 1946, Serial No. 697,856

(Cl. 20L-48) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved electric horn system or control circuit, by means of which the functioning of a warning signal such as a motor-operated horn may be controlled to produce a pleasant, relatively soit note adequate for city driving, or a loud, powerful tone for high speed travel on the open road.

It is an object of the invention to provide a contr-ol which may be incorporated in or form a part of the circuit embracing the electric horn, and as a result of `which the operation of the latter may be controlled regardless of the variations of voltage in the source of current supply. Accordingly, the horn may be caused to operate under all circumstances at maximum eiciency,

A further object is that of 'combining a control with such a born to produce a novel circuit or electrical layout and which, in use, will achieve the desired results.

Another object is that of furnishing a simple, highly eiiective contr-ol switch capable of being readily operated by the driver of a motor vehicle, and which control will embody functionally and structurally improved characteristics.

An additional object is that of providing a unit of this type which will embody relatively few parts, each individually simple and rugged in construction such parts being capable of ready assemblage by quantity pro-duction methods and when so assembled operating over long periods of time with freedom from all difficulties.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings illustrating one practical embodiment of the invention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a control with the protective enclosing casing removed to disclose the contained mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side View of the unit;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View in enlarged scale taken along the lines 3 3 and in the direction of the arrows as indicated in Fig. 2;

Fig. i is a somewhat diagrammatic representation of the co-ntrol interposed in an electric horn circuit; and

Fig. is a detail showing a second arrangemen of the voltage control assembly.

With primary reference to Fig. 4 it will be seen that a diaphragm 5 has been indicated, which diaphragm, in any desired manner, may form part of a horn assembly which should embrace a casing, trumpet portion, etc. (not shown). The diaphragm may conveniently be tensioned to resist to a maximum extent inward movement,

i. e., movement to the left as viewed in the figure under consideration.

The motor for operating the horn is preferably of the shunt type and includes a magnet l and a field 8. The motor additionally includes a rotary armature embracing a commutator 9 with which brushes I0 cooperate. Leads I2 are connected to a suitable power source (not shown) which may be the storage battery of a motor vehicle. Leads i2 extend to the opposite ends of the field coil 8 and are also connected to the brushes lil. Within one of the leads l2 a control generally indicated at i3 is interposed.

For the moment disregarding the control I3, it will be understood that with the armatureplunger 6 extending within the eld of the coil 8 and closely adjacent the path of travel of the arms of the armature 9, this plunger will be acted upon by the various magnetic ields which arev established incident to the operation of the motor.. More particularly, due to the variation of the field' force as the armature rotates, the element 6 will'v be caused to reciprocate. In other words, the plunger element 6 will move towards the axis oi the armature 9 when a maximum flow of current is passing through the field 8. rihis plunger will `loe returned to its normal position under minimum current flow through the field; such return being assured under the urging of the diaphragm 5 and/ or resiliency of any spring which may be employed to supplement this action.

The change of magnetic force causing the reciprocation of the plunger will occur according to the speed of rotation of the armature 9. Under normal operating conditions, such movement will be of sufficient frequency to cause the diaphragm to be vibrated to produce a warning tone of desirable pitch and volume. Such pitch should be of a frequency corresponding to that of the diaphragm. This will depend upon the area and characteristics of the latter which should be in accordance with the tone to be produced.

Under certain circumstances and especially in the case of an automobile, it will be understood that the voltage of the source of current supply will vary; this being dependent upon the amount to which the car battery has been charged, the speed with which the car generator is being oper-- ated, etc., etc. Incident to such variation in voltages it sometimes occurs that `an appreciable lapse results between the establishment of the now of current through the horn motor and the armature of the latter reaching a speed such that the plunger 6 is vibrated or reciprocated at a rate corresponding to the natural vibrational frequency of the diaphragm E. Until the armature has reached a speed such that the plunger 6 is caused. to be vibrated in accordance with the natural vibrational period inherent to the diaphragm, a tone may result which is not in accordance with the desires of the operator or manufacturer of the horn. By means of the control I 3, the operator may be assured that the functioning of the horn may be governed to produce precisely the desired tones.

Referring to one form of control structure as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, it will be observed that an elongated casing I4 may be employed and beyond the end of which a plunger I5 extends. This plunger is conveniently mounted by a rod I6 having slidable association with the casing and acted upon by a spring l? so that the plunger I5 is normally maintained in projected position. The inner end of the plunger I5 extends into the casing propel'. At this point, it carries a collar I9 to an extended portion 2li of which a contact member is secured. The latter may conveniently comprise a pair of conta-ct lingers 2l disposed adjacent its side edges and a central contact member or ringer 22.

The control casing mounts a contact plate 23 which may be centrally apertured and which, moreover, may be suitably insulated from the casing part. Such mounting is convenienth7 achieved by supporting the plate 23 upon a twopart insulating block 24. The latter is recessed to accommodate a resistance 25 which is housed within block 24 and is disposed within the aperture of the plate 23. This resistance conveniently terminates in a Contact button or unit 2S.

The lead I2, within which the control I 3 is interposed, may extend to a terminal 2l secured to the plate 23. The second part of this lead I2 may be connected to a terminal 28 in line with or forming a part of the contact 26. This contact is in line with the resistance 25 and in the path of travel of the nger 22 thereover. Therefore, when the plunger I5 is pushed, it is apparent that the finger 22 will initially engage the contact 26 and thereafter traverse the resistance 25.

With the parts thus connected and as shown in Fig. 4, it is therefore apparent that under normal circumstances, no current will ow through the horn motor. This will be because, with the plunger fully projected, the central contact nger 2?. will occupy a position beyond the contact 26. If, however, the plunger is pushed inwardly, this linger will ride into engagement with the contact. Under these circumstances, current will iiow directly from the lead attached to terminal 2l through the lingers 2l, thence through the nger 22 to the contact 26 and so through the lead. Under such circumstances, one may be assured that a maximum current ow will occur to the horn motor. Therefore, the inertia of the parts of the latter will be rapidly overcome and it will substantially immediately reach maX- imum speed.

If the battery or other power source delivers excessive Voltage to the motor, the motor speed will be out of harmony with the vibration period of the diaphragm, and an ineffectual or deficient note will result; but under continued movement of the plunger I5, the linger 22 will traverse the windings of the resistance 25. Such action will assure a diminution in current ilow to the motor. Therefore, the latter may quickly be brought to proper operating speed, and will not tend to exceed such speed. Motor rotation and diaphragm vibration being in harmony, the horn will produce sound of maximum intensity. For lower tones, the plunger should be moved inwardly to introduce additional resistance into the circuit, which resistance will have a value sutilcient to reduce the motor speed to produce a softer note. It will be noted that the motor ls always first given maximum current to overcome the inertia of starting.

If a source of current supply is, under the particular conditions of operation, of lower value than normal, then the engagement of the linger 22 with the contact 2B will still assure that the motor will reach its proper operating speed in a minimum interval of time. Thereafter, the operator may Simply maintain the finger 22 in engagement with the contact 26, or, if desired, shiftI the plunger to control the motor speed to produce the desired sound amplitude. Upon release of the plunger, there will be a brief interval of minimum resistance and maximum speed, and the sound will sharply increase before the horn becomes quiet,

In a second arrangement of the voltage control, shown in Fig. 5, two contact studs 30 and 3| are in parallel in the circuit of one of the leads I2. It should also be understood that said contacts are also in the path of movement of the contact ringer v22. Resistor 25a occupies the position centrally of the contact plate 23 as previously described, and is electrically connected to contact 3l. Movement of plunger I5 to the right of Fig. 5 will rst bring contact 22 into engagement with contact 39, delivering full voltage to the horn motor, to overcome its starting inertia. The contact 22 will then leave contact 30 and will engage resistor 25a at its maximum resistance value. The horn motor then will drop to its lowest speed, but again pick up speed as the contact 22 traverses the resistance until at contact 3|, it is again at maximum speed. Upon return movement of contact 22, motor speed will gradually drop to a low value immediately prior to the return engagement with contact 30, whereupon it will again suddenly receive full voltage and acquire maximum speed.

In each of the embodiments, therefore, it will be seen that the motor initially and finally receives maximum voltage, with an intermediate and controllable interval of lower speed. Such operation produces a very interesting range of sound amplitude at the horn; vibration of diaphragm 5 can be controlled or played upon in a manner not unlike the human vocal organs. In fact, it has been found that with practice in the use of the control I3 human or animal sounds may be imitated.

A pleasing and musical tone will be produced when the control is operated. The voltage supplied to the horn motor may be regulated consistent with the relation of the vibration characteristics of the diaphragm and the speed of the motor.

It is understood that a suitable casing or cover (not shown) enclcses the contact chamber, and that in the installation of the device the wall I8 of the casing is uppermost. For convenience of mounting the control in an automobile, for example, the arcuate lingers 32, 33 may embrace the steering column of the vehicle to be secured thereon by a bolt or equivalent (not shown) pass ing through suitable apertures provided for the purpose.

A straight-line action of the control has been illustrated, because the plunger action is simple and effective. However, arcuate movement, wherein the push-pull plunger action is supplanted by a rotating lever action, may be employed with suitable structural modications within the ability of the average mechanic.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically afore noted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangements of the parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as dened by the claims.

I claim:

1. Voltage control means including in combination a casing; an elongate contact plate insulatedly disposed within said casing, said contact plate being electrically connected to a power lead of a circuit; a resistance element disposed adjacent said contact plate and extending parallel to and insulated therefrom; a contact disposed within said casing adjacent said contact plate for connecting an end of said resistance to a second power lead of said circuit; a second contact aligned with but spaced from Said resistance at the opposite end thereof and also connected to said second power lead; and a slidable bridging contact for closing a circuit cross said contact, said bridging contact having a contact nger respectively aligned with said contact plate and a second contact finger aligned with said resistance and th'e respective first and second named contact means, and means for projecting said bridging contact to engage said second contact element, said resistance and said nrst named contact means in succession while maintaining concurrent contacting engagement with said contact plate; and means for returning said bridging contact to non-bridging position.

2. Voltage control means including in combination a casing, a body of insulation material disposed therein; an elongate contact plate supported by said insulation and having a terminal for connection to a power lead; a second contact disposed adjacent said Contact plate and having provision for the attachment of a second power lead thereto, said second contact being substantially shorter than said contact plate; a resistance element electrically connected to said second contact and extending therefrom parallel to said contact plate; and means for closing the circuit across said contact means with minimum voltage drop and then gradually increasing said voltage drop, comprising a, bridging contact extending between said plate contact and said second named contact and resistance, and means for projecting said bridging contact from an initial non-bridging condition initially into engagement with said plate contact and said second named contact and then` from said contact plate to said resistance, whereby the circuit will then include so much of said resistance as has been traversed by said bridging contact.

JOHN M. AUFIERO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Mar. 6, 1924 Number Number 

